October: Honoring the Strength of Caregivers who are Survivors
October: Honoring the Strength of Survivors and Caregivers
October is widely recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to honor the strength of survivors, uplift those still in the fight, and remember those we've lost. This month, PDC turned its focus to a broader and deeply meaningful theme: “Caregivers and Cancer.” Not limited to breast cancer alone, we looked at the quiet heroes who care for others while navigating life’s most difficult moments — often while carrying their own burdens.
Cancer does not discriminate. It knows no race, gender, or status. It doesn’t pause for your responsibilities, career, or the needs of those who depend on you. That’s why it’s so important that we continue, as a collective, to support, recognize, uplift, encourage, and truly see those who are caregiving — for loved ones and for themselves. This journey is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Both cancer and caregiving.
Dr. Tara: Survivor, Specialist, Sister in Strength
Dr. Tara — a trauma-informed specialist and creator of “Black Girl Sabbath,” a groundbreaking event series blending wellness and professional development for Black women — recently rang the bell and joined the community of survivors. Throughout October, she courageously shared her story: the strength, the struggle, the sacrifice, and ultimately, the success of navigating a life-changing diagnosis. Dr. Tara reminds us that healing is layered. It’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and communal. Her journey is a living testament to resilience and restoration.
Tina: A Faith-Walker and Friend
My dear friend Tina, a breast cancer survivor of one year, never once wavered in her faith during her battle. Her trust in God was — and continues to be — unwavering. Tina has always been my spiritual compass, praying for me during my seasons of doubt, and I for her. What I’ve learned from Tina is this: no matter where you are in your walk of faith, genuine prayer is recognized, received, and understood. It’s not about perfection; it’s about relationship — your relationship with God. Tina’s persistence in prayer was never performative — it was grounded in belief, and in time, she witnessed the promise fulfilled without presumption.
Paul: The Weight of Love and the Strength to Carry It
Then there’s Paul, who is currently caregiving for his aging mother as she faces a recurrence of cancer. Caring for aging parents is already overwhelming — now add a life-altering diagnosis, and the emotional toll becomes immense. The worry is constant: when naps are too long, when treatments cause pain, and when you wonder if you're making the right decisions. Should they continue aggressive treatment? Or should they embrace the time left — take the trips, make the memories, avoid the pain?
What I’ve seen in Paul is an unwavering dedication to honoring his mother’s wishes. He leads with love, respect, and deep compassion — qualities that define what it means to be a caregiver in every sense of the word.
A Collective Truth
Each of these individuals — Dr. Tara, Tina, and Paul — are caregivers in their own right. Whether at home, in the community, or in their professions, they’ve each navigated the emotional rollercoaster of diagnosis, the frustrations of insurance systems, and the exhaustion that comes with limited support or understanding. Yet, despite all of this, they give. They show up. They love.
And that’s what I’ve come to learn: Every journey is unique, but every story is familiar. At the core of it all is care — for others, and when possible, for self. This month and every month, let us celebrate those who continue to walk these difficult roads with grace, faith, and fierce determination.
Because caregiving — like cancer — changes you. But in that change, there is power. And in that power, there is purpose.